Refrigerator structure



Jan. 14, 1936. R. c. PIERCE 2,027,878 REFRIGERATOR STRUCTURE Filed April 26, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fry 1 l I I I Jan. 14, 1936. R. c. PIERCE REFRIGERATOR STRUCTURE Jan. 14, 1936. R. c. PIERCE REFRIGERATOR STRUCTURE Filed April 26, Z0

4 sheets sheet Jan. 14, 1936. R Q E 2,027,878

REFRIGERATOR STRUCTURE Filed April 26, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. i4, 193% REFRHGERATUR STRUCTURE Raymond tltierce, @hicago, mllL, assignor to General erican Tank Ear Corporation, a. corporation of West Virginia Application and 2c, 1935, sen-in alant 18 can. on. e2--15$ My invention relates generally to refrigerator structures using ice and salt ,as the refrigerating means, and more particularly to refrigerator cars commonly provided with basket bunkers for the ice, or brine tanks using salt for the refrigeratmg purpose.

The invention is still more particularly directed to refrigerator structures, especially cars, having storage capacity for ice of such quantity as to require periodic salting of the ice for the maintenance of the desired low temperature of the refrigerating space, over the desired period of time: in the case of refrigerator cars having large ice capacity it being necessary to resalt the ice every 24 to 48 hours if a reasonably constant inside temperature is to be maintained in the car.

My primary object is to provide a construction whereby the resalting of the ice will be automatically effected (in the ease of a refrigeratin car without stopping it in transit) and at the proper time for insuring a reasonably constant temperature Within the refrigerating space.

Another object is to provide such a construction which will present negligible interference to the desired circulation of air to the ice.

Another object is to provide such a construc- I tion which will not present obstruction to the charging of the ice into the compartment for receiving it.

Another object is to provide such construction which will be proof against the ice plant operator unwittingly so conditioning it as to prevent it from automatically functioning as stated; and other objects as will be manifest from the fol lowing description In devising my'invention I have taken" cognizance of the fact that there is an exact relationship between salinity of the meltage and the temperature of the air upon leaving the ice, and consequently, in general, the temperature of the can-the temperature decreasing as the salinity increases, and vice -versa--and also of the fact that there is a relationship between the height of the ice in the bunker and the salinity of the meltage and thus a relationship between the height of the ice and the temperature of the car; my invention involving the supplying of additional salt to the ice after the latter has lowered, in melting, to a predetermined height, determined by test as the proper elevation at which the salt-should be applied, to insure the maintenance of a reasonably constant temperature in the refrigerating space, and in any event, to prevent rise of temperature in the refrigerating space to such a degree as to result in damage to the contents of the refrigerator space.

I have chosen t'o-illustrate my invention as incorporated in a refrigerator car of the basketbunker type, though not with the intention of limiting it thereto, the following being a description of the appended drawings: a

Figure 1 is a broken view in cross section of a refrigerator car of the type referred to equipped with resalting means embodying my invention, the section being taken at the irregular line i on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 2 is a broken view in longitudinal sectional elevation of the end of the car shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken at the line 2.011 Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow;

. these two figures showing the car charged with ice and the corresponding position of my salt feeding apparatus. t

Figure 3 is an end view lik'e Fig. 2 of a part of the structure shown therein, illustrating the position occupied by the salt feeding apparatus during the operation of charging the car with ice.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the salt feeding apparatus as operated to feeding position following thelowering of the ice, in melting, to a predetermined height.

Figure 5 is a section taken at the line-5 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 6 is a view like Fig. 3 showing a modification of the construction of salt feeding apparatus of the preceding figures; and

Figure 7, a section taken at the line 11 .on Fig. 6 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

The drawings, by way of illustration, show the invention as embodied in refrigerator cars the general features of which are of common and well known construction.

Referring especially to Figs. 1-5 inclusive the car at each end is provided with two bunkers or icing chambers 8 arranged side by side at opposite sides of the car and shown as in the form of baskets of reticulated-wall construction in accordance with common practice.

Each bunker 8 is provided midway between its opposite sides with a hollow reticulated-wall partition 9 extending upwardly into the bunker partway only in accordance with common practice; whereby the eifectiveness of the circulating air on the ice is augmented. v

The roof of the car above each bunker 8 is provided with a,hatch-way l0, controlled by a through which the ice, in lumps, is charged into the bunkers 8 to rest on the bottoms l3 thereof and extend to the height generally indicated in Fig. 2, in which figure a showing, as to most of the ice, is omitted to better expose details of the bunker construction.

Located in the upper portion of each bunker 8, in vertical alinement with thetwo major divisions thereof (formed by providing the flue-partition 9) is a salt-feeding element shown as com prising two containers, or cans, I4 for granular salt to be supplied to the ice for resalting it, these two containers being shown as connected together to form a single unit. The salt-feeding element is formed of a front wall [5, a rear wall I6, bottom wall ll, end Walls I8 and a top wall l9 shown as an open, steel, inverted channel member for protection against ice picks and falling ice. The two container-portions M are separated by end walls 20 which flare toward the partition 9.

The front and rear walls l5 and it contain series of openings in the form of horizontal slots 2| and 22, respectively, which open into the container portions of the salt-feeding element, these slots being provided with louvers 23, preferably inwardly extending as shown to protect them against injury, the purpose of the louvers being to prevent the salt, discharged into the container portions l8 through openings (not shown) in their tops, from running out of these openings when the salt-feeding element is in vertical position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The salt-feeding element is provided at its lower end with trunnions 24 journaled in brackets 25 on the rear wall of the ice compartment 8 adapting the salt-feeding element to be swung from the upstanding position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 to substantially horizontal position shown in Fig. 4, the salt-feeding element being so positioned that its flaring walls 20 extend at approximately equal distances at opposite sides of the partition 9.

In the use of the salt-feeding element it is first moved to upstanding position (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) and charged with salt, and the ice and salt charged into the compartment 8 substantially to the height shown in Fig. 2, the ice becoming positioned to extend across the face of the saltwhen the ice has melted down to the level of the top surface of the partition 9, the salt-feeding element will assume a substantially horizontal position and will by that time have discharged all of the salt in the container portions l8 on top of the ice substantially uniformly over substantially the full area of the ice, thus resalting the ice to effect sufficiently rapid melting thereof to prevent objectionable undue rise in temperature within the car and maintain the temperature substantially constant.

The salt-feeding element in this construction is associated with means, operative upon the swinging of the cover II to the open position shown in Fig. 3, to automatically swing the saltfeeding element to upright position (Figs. 1, 2

and 3) these means comprising a chain 26 connected to the cover II and to the salt-feeding element at such a point as to efiect the turning of the latter to the position shown in these figures. Upon replacing the cover H the chain 26 slackens to free the salt-feeding element for movement to the salt-feeding position.

Any suitable means for automatically turning the salt-feeding element to discharge position may be provided. In this particular construction this operation is effected by locating the trunnions 25 adjacent the rear wall of the saltfeeding element as shown whereby the latter is in unbalanced condition and automatically tilts to discharge position when the ice in front of it lowers to non-obstructing position as shown in Fig. 4, the buffing action of the car also being of assistance in causing the salt-feeding element to turn over.

In practice it may be desirable to provide for the lowering of the salt-feeding element to discharge position when the ice'has lowered to a different height than that at which the saltfeeding element woulddischarge if the pivots of the latter are at a certain fixed elevation. Any suitable means for selectively locating the pivots at different elevations may be provided. In the construction shown this is provided for by providing the brackets 25 with pivot-bearings 21 at different elevations in which the trunnions 25 may be selectively positioned.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6 the means for turning the salt-feeding element to upright position comprise a lever 28 pivoted at its lower end, at 29, to the roof of the car at a side of the hatch-way l0 and a link 30 pivoted at its upper end to the lever 28 above the pivot 29, as represented at 3| and having a slot 32 at its lower end into which a pin 23 on the salt-feeding element extends.

The parts described are so proportioned and arranged as shown that in the swinging of the lever 28 to the raised full-line position shown in the drawings the lower end wall of the slot 32 will engage the pin 33 and turn the salt feeding element to upright position as shown, the pivot 3| swinging rearwardly beyond the pivot 29 to hold the salt-feeding element in this position in which the lever 28 obstructs the proper seating of the cover II in the hatch-way l0. After the ice compartment has been filled with ice the operator swings the lever 28 to the left in Fig. 6 to a position in which it will not interfere with the application of the cover In to properly seated position on the hatch-way, the lever 28,

in this operation, sliding at its slot 32 along the pin 33 to a position in which the salt-feeding element is free to tilt to salt-feeding position upon the lowering of the ice out of obstructing position.

Other means may be provided for swinging and/or holding the salt-feeding element in upright position, such as a hook rod with-a chain attached to the salt-feeding element, the hook being dropped over the top of the hatch-way frame to hold the salt-feeding element raised, the hook requiring to be removed from the hatch-way frame to free the salt-feeding ele ment, before the cover H can be replaced: or a hook which the operator engages with a projection provided on the salt-feeding element and turns the latter to upright position, engaging the hook with the hatch-way frame, requiring disengagement of the hook from the frame to permit the cover II to be replaced.

As will be manifest in both of the modifications just described and in the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7, danger of the salt-feeding element being hung up and rendered inoperative is prevented and the constructions are thus fool-proof. The construction shown in Figs. 1-5 inclusive as will be understood, in view ,of its automatic functioning being also fool- ..These walls also form slope sheets operating to deflect the salt to each side of the partition 9 and preventing the salt from flowing downward into this partition.

It is desirable that the percentage of salt sup plied to the ice be varied with different atmospheric temperatures. This may be provided for by .using salt-feeding elements of different capacities, as for example, putting in the salt containers fillers such as wooden or metal boxes which by occupying portions of the spaces' in the containers would leave room for less salt, or a wall or walls such as the rear walls of the containers may be made adjustable toward and away from the front walls as by hinging the rear walls at their lower edges; in both of which cases all of the outlets 22 would remain operative to effect the desired wide-spread distribution of the salt over the ice.

While I have illustrated and described .various forms in which my invention may be employed, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered and the invention embodied in "other forms of structure without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment, of means operating automatically, when the ice in the compartment melts to a predetermined height, to supply salt to the ice.

2. In a refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment, of means operative when the ice in the compartment melts to a predetermined height to supply salt to the ice, said means being adjustable to supply the salt to the ice when the ice lowers to any one of different heights.

3. In iii-refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment, of a salt-feeding element which, when the ice is charged into the compartment, is in, salt-retaining position and movable to discharge salt to the ice in said compartment upon lowering of the ice, in melting, to a predetermined height.

4. In a refrigerating structure, the combina- I tion with its ice compartment, of a pivotally supported salt-feeding element which, when the ice is charged into the compartment, is in salt-' retaining position and movable to discharge salt to the ice in said compartment upon lowering of the ice, in melting, to a predetermined height.

5. In a refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment, of a salt-feeding element held in salt-retaining position by the ice charged into the container and movable automatically in the lowering of the ice in the compartment, in melting, to a predetermined height, to discharge salt upon the ice.

6. In a. refrigerating structure, the combina-' tion with its ice compartment, of a salt-feeding element pivoted to normally tend to swing downwardly and ,feed salt to the ice in the container and positioned to beheld in upwardly-extending salt-retaining position-by the ice charged into the compartment, whereby when the ice in the compartment lowers, in melting, to a predetermined height said element automatically swings down to salt-feeding position.

7. In a refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment, of a pivotally supported salt-feeding element which, when the ice is charged into the compartment, is in salt-' retaining position and movable to discharge salt to the ice in said compartment upon lowering of the ice, in melting, to a predetermined height and means for selectively pivoting said element at difierent elevations.

8. In a refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment-,having a hatchway through which the ice is charged into the compartment and a cover for said hatch-way, of means operative when the ice inthe compartment melts to a predetermined height to supply salt to the ice, the whole being so constructed and arranged that the cover cannot be applied to properly seated position without rendering said means free to discharge salt to the ice when the latter lowers to said height.

9. In a refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment having a hatchway through which the ice is charged into the compartment and a cover for said hatch-way, of a salt-feeding element held in salt-retaining position by the ice charged into the container and movable automatically in the'lowering of the ice in the compartment, in melting, to a predetermined height, to discharge salt upon the ice, and means connected with said cover operative when the cover is removed to move said element to salt-retaining position and when said cover is replaced to free said element for movement to salt-feeding position.

10. In a refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment having a hatchway through which the ice is charged into the compartment and a cover for said hatch-way,

and means for moving said element to salt-retaining position and movable to free said element for movement to salt-feeding position, said means being so positioned relative to said cover as to require the movement of said means to a position to free said element for movement to salt-feeding position before the cover can be properly replaced.

11. In a refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment having a hatchway through which the ice is charged into the compartment and a cover for said hatch-way, of a salt-feeding element held in salt-retaining position by the ice charged into the container and movable automatically in the lowering of the ice in the compartment, in melting, to a pre-,

element for movement to salt-feeding position,

said mechanism being so positioned relative to said cover as to require the movement of said mechanism to a position to free said element for movement to salt-feeding position before the cover can be properly replaced.

12. In a refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment, of a salt-feeding element which, when the ice is charged into the compartment, is in salt-retaining position and movable to discharge salt to the ice in said compartment upon lowering of the ice, in melting, to a predetermined height, said element having discharge openings with louvers therefor to retain the salt in said element when said element is in salt-retaining position.

13. In a refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment, of a pivotally supported salt-feeding element which, when the ice is charged into the compartment, is in saltretaining position and movable to discharge salt tothe ice in said compartment upon lowering of the ice, in melting, to a predetermined height, said element having discharge openings with louvers therefor to retain the salt in said element when said element is in salt-retaining position.

14. In a refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment, of a salt-feeding element which, when the ice is charged into the compartment, is in salt-retaining position and movable to discharge salt to the ice in said compartment upon lowering of the ice, in melting,

to a predetermined height, said element having openings at its opposite sides, those at one side being discharge openings, with louvers at said openings for retaining the salt in said element when said element is in salt-retaining position.

15. In a refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment, of a pivotally supported salt-feeding element which, whenthe ice is charged into the compartment, is in saltretaining position and movable to discharge salt to the ice in said compartment upon lowering of the ice, in melting, to a predetermined height, said element having openings at its opposite sides, those at one side being discharge openings, with louvers at said openings for retaining the salt in said element when said element is in upwardly extending position.

16. he refrigerating structure, the combination with its ice compartment containing an upwardly extending partition, of a salt-feeding element positioned directly above said partition and having discharge openings, the end walls of said element adjacent said partition extending at opposite sides of said partition and flaring toward said partition, said element, when the ice is charged into the compartment, being in saltretaining position and movable to discharge salt to the ice in said compartment upon lowering of the ice, in melting, to a predetermined height,

17. In a refrigerating structure, the combination with its icecompartment, of means controlled through the melting of ice in the compartment to automatically supply salt to the ice. 1

18. In a refrigerating structure the combination with its ice compartment, of means controlled through the lowering of ice in the compartment to automatically supply salt to the ice.

RAYMOND C. PIERCE. 

